Bison back for a run at 3

Chelsey Parkins (center) went 12-2 with a 1.75 ERA in leading Buffalo to its second consecutive Class A state title last season.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Several teams in the Kanawha Valley enjoyed postseason success last year, but none more than Buffalo.

The Bison (32-7) claimed its second straight Class A state title, going back-to-back for the first time in school history. Buffalo won titles in 2002 and 2004, but failed to defend them.

"I think it's their attitude,'' said Buffalo coach Darrell Moore, who's in his 20th season. "It's a happy-go-lucky bunch. They're very serious about their game, but they joke around with each other, have a ball. They're all friends and they just love each other to death. They just enjoy the game together.''

Buffalo is loaded again with three all-state selections highlighting six returning starters. Junior pitcher-shortstop Chelsey Parkins, junior left fielder Katie Higginbotham and sophomore pitcher-shortstop Ali Burdette were all Class A all-state first-team selections.

Burdette owned a 9-2 pitching record with a 1.33 earned run average while hitting .541. Parkins turned in a 12-2 mark with 1.75 ERA in the circle while batting .460. Higginbotham batted .458.

Also returning to starting positions are juniors Katie Allen (third base) and Noell Dingess (second base) and sophomore Olivia Dunn, a center fielder who was missed most of last year with ankle and hand injuries.

Junior Paige England, who played mostly junior varsity last year, will get the nod at first base while senior Kelsey Gatens and sophomore Taylor Brisco will rotate in right field and freshman Chase Christy earned the primary catching duties.

Sophomore Courtney Allen, the No. 3 hurler and an outfielder, will be lost for most of the year to a knee injury sustained during basketball season but could return for the last couple of weeks of the regular season. Dingess, though, is capable of stepping into the circle if needed.

"I'm pleased with them,'' Moore said. "They're eager. The kids are practicing really, really hard and they're ready to play. I've never seen the kids under a lot of pressure. They're always relaxed and focused. I look for the same this year.''

Here's a capsule look at some other teams around the Kanawha Valley (last year's record in parentheses where available):

Herbert Hoover (22-5) came up one win shy of advancing to states last year, falling in the regional title game to eventual Class AA state champion Wayne.

The Huskies are counting on another stellar season from sophomore pitcher Allison Rager, who was an all-state first-team selection as a freshman after sporting a 20-3 record with a 1.27 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 149 innings. She also hit a team-high .427 with 12 doubles and 18 RBIs.

Senior catcher Damia Mogielski and senior first baseman Amber Oaks return to starting positions along with juniors McKenzie Edmonds (second base), Ashleigh Tignor (right field) and Mikayla Craze, who was a top substitute last year, and sophomore Kati Angle (left field). Zoey Carte and Caroline Thornburg will have expanded roles.

Riverside (17-12) will be eying its third straight sectional title behind the arm of senior pitcher Sara Winter, who compiled a 12-6 record with six shutouts and 87 strikeouts last season. Seniors Kaylee Wolfe and Destini Daegert are back along with junior infielder Felicia Burton, who was one of the area leaders with eight doubles and 16 stolen bases.

St. Albans (23-7) has been ousted the past two years in the regional semis after winning it all in 2010.

Haynes finished with a 22-5 record and a 1.18 ERA to go along with 115 strikeouts in 119 innings. She also batted .368 with three home runs and a team-leading 35 RBIs. Caudill hit .342 with four homers and 30 RBIs and Marshall, who will move from third base to shortstop, hit .513 with nine doubles and 27 RBIs.

Hurricane (26-7) turned in one of its best seasons in school history, but didn't have much to celebrate after getting eliminated in the sectional title game. The Redskins are fresh off their first Mountain State Athletic Conference championship and set a school record for victories, which has made their young squad even hungrier.

Senior center fielder Nicole Pierson (.448, six doubles, 23 RBIs), junior left fielder Addie Fullen (.393, four home runs, 25 RBIs), a AAA all-state second-team selection, and senior catcher Linzie Reynolds (.431, 18 RBIs) return to the starting lineup. Senior Haley Byrd will see time at first and third base.

Capital: First-year coach David Holt will lean heavily on senior four-year starters Haley King (pitcher) and Razhane Andrews (center field). The Cougars also welcome back junior third baseman Lexi Brown, a three-year starter, and junior first baseman Tori McGinnis, a two-year starter.

Charleston Catholic: First-year coach Kevin Corbett starts with a solid foundation in junior shortstop Brianna Ross, who batted .676 last season but didn't have enough at-bats to qualify for the leaders list with so many mercy-rule defeats. Ross also led the Fighting Irish in runs scored, stolen bases, doubles and triples. Senior Emma Sovick (.429) also returns after a solid year.

George Washington: Junior catcher Bailey Rabel is the top returning hitter with a .422 average to go along with 20 RBIs and 11 doubles. Junior outfielder Jessi Thevenin (.397) and senior Rachel Ward (.384) will keep the offense humming.

Nitro (8-16): The Wildcats have plenty of experience in seniors Melissa Belcher (left field), Chelsea Terwilliger (first base) and Chelsie Hall (second base) returning to starting positions along with juniors Amber Hughes, who will be the primary pitcher, and Halie Miller, who will move from third base to center field, and sophomores Nichole Brown (catcher) and Katie Jones (shortstop).

Poca: The Dots suffered a setback before the season began when they lost AA first-team all-state standout Madi McGrew for the season after the senior tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a basketball game in December. Poca will rely on sophomore shortstop Bri Bias and junior center fielder Natalie Parkins to carry the load while freshman pitcher Tori Ward has shown promise.

Sissonville (18-10): The Indians will be inexperienced with 10 of their 16 players freshmen, but they are used to winning after taking the middle school championship last year.

South Charleston (13-10): The Black Eagles' only concern will be offense since they have one of the top pitchers in the Valley and probably the state in senior Alli Burdette.

The AAA all-state first-team selection posted a Kanawha Valley-best 0.78 ERA with 256 strikeouts as a junior last season. Burdette threw one perfect game, four no-hitters and seven shutouts while opponents hit just .097 against her. For good measure, the Elon recruit led the team with a .397 batting average.